are principally to respect the conduct of the professors, in their connexions and transactions with their fellow men. Persons may appear very devotional, and highly gratify us with the relation of transporting views and glowing affection to God; but let us not be 'precipitate in our conclusions about their true character. These are not the most discriminating evidences of a gracious state. To adopt the expression of Mr. Flavel, "we may say, there is an eminent saint, but God may say, there is a self-cozening Pharisee." How many, who make a credible profession of love to God, are very defective, if not essentially defi cient, in the evidence they give of love to men? How many, if we inspect their practice, and determine their character by this evidence, upon whom will be written, TEKEL; Thou art weigh ed in the balances, and art found wanting? How many, whose visible practice towards God, and his institutions, is regular and commendable, who in their practice with men are contentious, dishonest, contracted, fraudulent, and unjust; who oppress, speculate upon the necessities of the poor, deny their compassion to the destitute, and give occasion for the reproachful reflection, There is one of your professors. But if, by their uniform practice, they support the character of men, who are pure, upright, just, faithful, peaceable, benevolent, merciful, and kind, in their social relations, who dare impeach the sincerity of their professions of love to God? How necessary and important is it, then, for professors of religion, who would possess evidence themselves, VOL. XI. and exhibit evidence to others, that they have received the grace of God not in vain, that they be uniform and habitual in the exercise of all Christian graces, and the practice of all Christian duties-that they give all dili gence to add to their faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity; that doing these and abounding, they be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ; and that an abundant admittance may be administered to them into the everlasting kingdom of their Lord and Savior. 2. The most safe and satisfactory method of examining themselves, and determining their own characters, and state, is not principally, by their professions of love to God and respect for his institutions, nor even by their practice in their relative connexions, though these are essential and important; for even these may proceed from unworthy mo. tives; but by a serious and im partial investigation of the inter nal principles and motives of their actions, in their most retired situations, when they are most exempted from the influ ence and restraint of external considerations, and their views and motives have the best opportunities spontaneously to disclose themselves, in their true and simple nature. For the same reasons, that persons manifest their character more correctly in their social relations, than in their transactions with the Supreme Being, their predominating dispositions being *12 under less restraint, will the dispositions of their hearts/disclose themselves more simply and genuinely, in private and retired situations, than in public view. They are more themselves. If when no human eye sees them, they are conscious that they habitually indulge improper thoughts of God, and their hearts secretly say of his service, What a weariness is it? if they are impatient under restraints, and would be liberated from his government and authority; if they are refractory under his corrections, and submit not voluntarily to his will; if they consume his his mercies upon their lusts, and esteem not his Gospel above hidden treasure; or if they seek their own interest inconsistently with that of others; if they in jure, oppress, and defraud; if they turn away their eyes from the poor, and shut the bowels of their compassions from the needy; or if they are conscious, that they habitually indulge pride, envy, malice, and resentment, or impure imaginations and secret lusts, or live in the neglect of acknowledged duties; have they not internal evidence, that their hearts are not right with God? and if their hearts condemn them, God is greater than their hearts, and knoweth all things. But if with the psalmist, they hate vain thoughts, and improper feelings toward God are casions of painful regret and heaviness daily; if they habitually mourn over a stubborn, rebellious, undutiful, and intractable spirit, and abhor themselves for their secret sins; if they put off anger, wrath, and strife, and lay aside malice and guile, envies and evil speakings; if they mor tify pride, and the old man with his corrupt and deceitful lusts; if they cultivate honorable thoughts of God, delight in his law, and are in subjection to his will; if they are obedient to his precepts, and submissive under his corrections-if they put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering forbearing and forgiving one another; if they studiously imitate the example of Christ, when they are reviled not reviling again, and not threatening when they suffer, and in being holy, harmless, and undefiled; then have they internal evidence, that they have passed from death to life, and may assure their hearts before Him; for if their hearts condemn them not, then will they have confidence ward God. 3. The preceding remarks prescribe to saints the most effectual method of exhibiting the most satisfactory evidence of a gracious state, adorning their holy profession, and promoting their spiritual interests, peace, and comfort; not simply by heing blameless in the ordinances of the Lord, though this is important; but by suppressing sinful passions, and preserving the meekness and gentleness of Christ, amidst the numerous provocations to bitterness, wrath, and resentiment, which will successively occur from the fraud, injustice, dishonesty, abuse and ingratitude of the crooked and perverse generation, among whom they reside; which will occasion the most severe conflicts; conflicts which will require the vigorous exercise of holy fortitude, and patient per ness, severing exertion to suppress. Let Christians proceed habitually, in the exercise of that love, which is the fulfilling of the law, expressing itself in the various acts of integrity, justice, honesty, fidelity, goodness and peaceablewith forbearance, mercy and forgiveness. By this will they exhibit visible and satisfactory evidence that they are born of God, and the children of their Father in heaven. By this will they adorn their holy profession, manifest the superior, the divine excellencies and impressive beauties of that religion, which is pure, and undefiled before God and the Father, in its simple and genuine nature and blessed ef fects. By this, also, will they possess evidence, that they know the grace of God in truth, and for their joy and rejoicing will have the testimony of their consciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity by the grace of God they have their conversation in the world, as the fruit of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. 4. I urge the solemn obligations of Christians to observe practically the directions and exhortations of the apostles, in the performance of social and relative duties. So important is the performance of civil duties, that the holy apostles exhorted Christian pastors, first of all to make supplications, prayers,intercessions,and thanksgivings for all men, for kings, and for ail that are in authority; and to put Christians in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, not only for wrath, or through fear of punishment, but also for conscience' sake; and directed to render to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor. In the same manner, they exhorted to the performance of conjugal, paren tal, filial and social duties. If they neglect these duties, and to this neglect indulge in the opposite practice, will they not give occasion for that holy name, by which they are called, to be blasphemed? Will not Christ be wounded and bleed in the house of his friends Let us suppose an ardent professor of love and zeal for God, and a constant attendant on his institutions, yet destitute of love to men and indulgent in unsocial passions, and what a discordant, distorted character? Consider a professor of religion, as a subject, speaking evil of dignities, impatient and refractory under restraints; as a husband, morose and unkind to the desire of his eyes; as a wife, disrespectful and peevish to the guide of her youth; as a parent, without natural affection; as a child, undutiful and disobedient; as a citizen, contracted, fraudulent, faithless, unjust, oppressive, and destitute of sympathy and compassion to the distressed; and propose him as a disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus, and what mind does not revolt, what heart does not recoil? But if professors of religion regularly perform civil and relative duties, if husbands love their wives, as Christ loved the church, and wives respect their husbands, as the church is subject to Christ; if parents are affectionate, and faithful to their chil dren, and children are dutiful to their parents; if men are peaceable and inoffensive, pitiful and courteous; if they study to be quiet and to do their own business; if the spirit of love and goodness habitually inspires and regulates their conduct, in their civil and social relations, how impressively do they display the pure and blessed religion of Jesus, and shine as lights in the world? How imperious then are their obligations to walk in wisdom towards those, who are without, to be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, that in all things they may adorn the doctrine of God, their Savior? Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. A. K. For the Panoplist. CONCERT OF PRAYER. It is known to the writer of these lines, that the proposal for a Concert of Prayer, which was stated and explained in the Panoplist for January, p. 19, has been received by many Christians, both ministers and private members of our churches, with great interest. A similar proposal had been communicated by let ters to a considerable extent; and I have the pleasure of stat ing, that a large number of churches will commence the observance of this concert, on the first Monday of the present month. Since the proposal above alluded to was made public, it has pleased God, in the abundance of his mercy, to restore to us the blessings of peace. On many accounts this is a most joyful event; but the Christian will not fail to acknowledge it to be preeminently desirable, as it opens the world to missionaries, and to all benevolent exertions. It will be a very pleasant and profitable part of the exercises, at this concert, to return thanks for so signal an interposition of the divine favor; and to offer earnest supplications to God for his Holy Spirit, that Christians may be inclined to engage heartily in the great work of the Lord. The world never saw such a period before. Twelve months ago the whole Christian world was engaged in a most violent and unprecedented war; now the whole Christian world is at peace. After wars of so violent and desperate a character, as were those which have ceased within the year past, it is reason. able to expect a period of quiet. The world is exhausted by war; it indispensably demands a season of rest. May we not confidently hope, that, in answer to the united prayers of his people, God will cause pure and inde. filed religion to prevail; that he will extend his church in a manner never before parallel; and that the pacific dispositions inculcated by the Savior of men will gain such influence, as that the present peace shall remain inviolate for ever. It is not too much to affirm, that if Christians, comparatively small as number is, will discharge ail their duties actively, thoroughly, and perseveringly;-if they will pray, as they ought to do, when they consider the efficacy of prayer, and the wanɩs their Meigs From Mrs. Boutell, of Fitchburg, by do. 24. From the Female Foreign Mission Society of Tyringham, (Mass,) by Miss Abigail, Hale, the Treasurer, remitted by the Rev. Joseph Warren Dow March 4. From the Rev. Jonathan Fisher, of Bluehill, (Maine.) by Mr. Philip Newins 7. From the Society of the Friends of Morals and Missions in the West Parish of Westminster, (Ver.) by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, of Hatfield 10. From a female friend of Foreign Missions, in the north 10 00 1 00 50 80 20 00 10 00 15 00 Carried forward $307 30 *The testatrix was, at the time of her death, 46 years old. She had never been married; but had always lived in respectable families, at moderate wages. The fruits of her industry amounted to about 600 dollars. After giving such legacies to individuals as she thought proper, she left the residue of her estate to the Board, to be expended, according to their discretion, in promoting the cause of Christ among the heathen. Brought forward $307 30 parish of Andover, by Mr. Edward Warren From a female friend of missions in Centre Harbor, (N. H.) by Mr. Warren 3.00 2.00 $312 30 FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETIES. The Merrimac Branch of the Foreign Missionary Society held their fourth annual meeting in Newburyport, on the 9th of January last, when the following gentlemen were elected officers for the year ensuing, viz. THOMAS M. CLARK, Esq. Pres. Mr. JOSEPH S. PIKE, Treas. The Foreign Mission Society for Hallowell and Augusta and the Vicinity held their fourth annual meeting, Jan. 4, 1815, when the following gentlemen were elected officers. Rev. ELIPHALET GILLET, (Hallowell,) Pres. Rev. BENJAMIN TAPPAN, (Augusta,) 1st. V. Pres Rev. DAVID THURSTON, (Winthrop,) 2d. P. Pres. JOHN SEWALL, Esq. (Hallowell,) Treas. Gen. HENRY SEWALL, (Augusta,) Sec. The Foreign Mission Society of Buth and its Vicinity held their fourth annual meeting, on the third of January last, when the following gentlemen were unanimously re-elected; viz. Rev. WILLIAM JENKS, Prof. in Bowdoin |